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Saleroom Spotlight: Behind the
SALEROOM SPOTLIGHT
Medals awarded to a WWI naval hero for his motorcycling prowess go under the hammer in Norfolk this month
In the pioneering early days of long-distance motorcycling few names compare to that of the triallist and naval hero, Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot (1864-1916), who went down with his armoured cruiser, HMS Defence, at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 with all 903 hands.
The rear admiral’s heroism at sea was mirrored by his determination and skill on two wheels. Just eight years before he died, then aged 44, he came third in the singlecylinder class of the second ever Isle of Man TT. In fact, his love of both the sea and motorbikes came together in a very unusual and tragic way. Arbuthnot kept his Triumph Sunbeam Tonneau on board his ship in his day cabin, so it is said it went down with him the day he died.
Above Four 9ct gold Motor Cycling Club (MCC) medals, each with an estimate of £200-£300 at this month’s sale
Top right Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot (1864-1916)
Right Two 9ct two-tone gold Newcastle & District M.C.C Reliability Trial medals, dated August 1908 and awarded to Capt R.K Arbuthnot-Bart R.N (one 12.1g and one 10.5g) both stamped to verso. The man who was to become RearAdmiral Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot, 4th Baronet, KCB, MVO, RN, was born in Alderminster, Warwickshire, in 1864. From a well-todo family, he joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman at the age of 13.
The history books record his rise through the ranks. In 1901, aboard HMS Royal Sovereign, he survived an accidental heavy gun explosion at the breech, which killed six men. He later succeeded in the naval defence of the German raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in 1914.
Arbuthnot’s naval career ran parallel to his passion for all sports, including boxing and running, but most of all motorcycling. He was an early member of the Motor Cycling Club Ltd (MCC) founded in 1901 by a small number of “automotive pioneers” determined to test themselves and their machines.
MCC success
The aspirations of the members of the MCC were to “trek along the unmade and unlit roads and hills between London and Edinburgh”. One of its first races was The Edinburgh Trial, established in 1904, which gave entrants 24 hours to cover the 400 miles from English to Scottish capital along remote roads, few of which were tarmacked.
Arbuthnot won five gold medals in the trial from 1908 to 1914, and in the 1910 Land’s End Trial, its inaugural year, he scooped the Shulte Cup for the best performance by a motorcycle.
In 1922, in his honour, a motorcycle trial called the Arbuthnot Trial was instigated. It involved a day of gruelling off-road riding with time checks, which was open to naval and marine officers only, and was run in different locations each year.
Fattorini & Sons
Some of Arbuthnot’s medals include makers’ names, such as Fattorini & Sons, making them collectors’ items of their own.
Antonio Fattorini, came to the north of England from Switzerland in 1815 when Britain was encouraging skilled European immigrants to help fuel the rapid industrialisation.
By 1826, he was selling watches and jewellery in Leeds market. In 1831, he moved to Bradford to open his first ‘fixed shop’.
Another part of the family (he employed both his sons), opened a firm in Birmingham, taking advantage of the demand for badges, medals, and medallions required by the growing number of sports clubs which were flourishing throughout the country – including the MCC.
AUCTION fact file
WHAT: The motorcycling medals of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot, part of the Automobilia sale When: June 23 Where: TW Gaze, Diss Auction Rooms, Roydon Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4LN Viewing: Online at www.twgaze.co.uk
Above left Fattorini’s label for Masonic wear
Below left A third place MCC 5 Lap 350cc scratch race medal, dated 1913, and a Newcastle & District Non-stop Trial Jedboro & Back medal, dated 1908, (made by Fattorini & Son Bradford). The pair has an estimate of £100-£200 at this month’s sale
Far left A 15ct gold Auto Cycle Union Land’s End to John O’ Groats medal, dated 1908 and awarded to Capt Sir R.K Arbuthnot-Bart. R.N, 11.1g and stamped to verso. It has an estimate of £300-£400 at this month’s sale
Left A 9ct gold MCC London, Exeter, London medal, dated December 1912 awarded to Rear-Admiral Sir R.K Arbuthnot, 12.3g and stamped to verso. It has an estimated of £200£300 at this month’s sale
Below An early Triumph Sunbeam motorcycle. Sunbeams were manufactured from 1912 to 1956. Not in sale, image courtesy of Bonhams
‘Arbuthnot kept his Triumph Sunbeam Tonneau in his day cabin, and it is said that at the time of his death his motorcycle was aboard his ship’ IN MY OPINION...
We asked Andre Ling from TW Gaze’s automobilia department for his sale highlights In an extraordinary life, do any particular stories stick in your mind?
The fact that Sir Arbuthnot sailed with his motorcycle stowed in his quarters on board his naval ship always makes me smile. It is an image which sticks in my mind because, although charming and innocuous, and possibly only a sign of mischievous individualism or even eccentricity, it indicates his strengths of total commitment, devotion and dedication to what he was passionate about. These traits continued into the command of all his ships until tragically, at the Battle of Jutland, where he lost his life after performing a brave, yet unsuccessful, manoeuvre.
How important is the collection?
The importance of the medals is multi-fold. They uniquely document some of the earliest MCC races. Such medals do not come to market very often, certainly not in multiples, and when they do, each one is different. The fact that these were won by, and bear the prestigious name of, Robert Arbuthnot, and have remained in Arbuthnot’s family until now adds extra special significance to historians and enthusiasts. They also represent an interesting piece of social history, giving us an insight into how a prominent naval officer and member of the aristocracy relaxed when not on duty.
Describe early long-distance trials They
were feats of extraordinary daring, physical strength and personal aptitude. Roads were usually unmade tracks; street-lighting was limited to cities and larger towns, navigation was unsophisticated and road-side signs were few and far between. Add to this the fact vintage motorcycles were heavy, with little suspension and hard leather saddles.
Where do you expect interest to come?
Hopefully there will be a broad cross-section of bidders due to the potential appeal to gold buyers, militaria collectors and automobilia enthusiasts. One would expect the main interest to be from the UK, given the very patriotic themes of naval history and the MCC; – notably from museums, collectors or archive managers. However, I wouldn’t rule out some international enquiries, too.
